Welcome to Future Transport Tasmania

We are here to lobby for better public transport and rail infrastructure in Tasmania. We aim to find solutions to allow all Tasmanians to have environmentally responsible and affordable commuting options to get around our state and towns. A more detailed mission statement can be found in the left column or <here>.

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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Media Release

METRO passengers lose again

Government makes acutely disappointing decision to increase fares

Community public transport group Future Transport Tasmania (FTT) today condemned the State Government’s decision to increase fares for Metro Tasmania.

FTT’s position on Metro bus fares continues to be that there should not be any fare increases, but that the State Government should instead be working on ways to increase patronage, not the cost of the tickets. The recently released Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources Draft Southern Integrated Transport Plan makes no significant suggestion of increasing bus services but simply hopes that increased patronage will occur. The Plan does include a strategy to ‘Encourage and support greater use of public passenger transport’, but does not actually mention any increase in bus services.

It appears the State Government has also failed to identify that reducing travel times and travel congestion, requires promotion and easy availability of alternative public transport options. Whilst a small amount of bike lanes have recently been created, for most people the only alternative form of transport is a bus, yet we have recently seen a reduction in total services on the Eastern shore.

Future Transport Tasmania Spokesperson, Toby Rowallan, said; ‘Once again public transport is losing out. The State Government wants to recover costs. We maintain that this should not be the primary concern. We need a plan to increase patronage, with increased services and much better promotion and advertising of the benefits of public transport, in particular the savings that people can make.’

‘Increasing fares is only going to discourage current users, but it will certainly not encourage new users. Therefore whilst they may well recover more of the costs, there is a significant possibility that with a decline in passenger numbers, Metro Tasmania will in real terms actually lose more money. We do note that there will be no increase in the cost of concession cards, and we fully support that, however this should be about getting more people on buses, and in that regard the Government’s policy is a failure.’

‘We are greatly concerned that the State Government’s priority appears to be revenue and not people. With no additional use of public transport there will inevitably be an increase in traffic congestion, with all the consequences that brings, including pollution in particular. If we had increased frequency and scope of bus services it would be the other way around,’ finished Mr Rowallan.

To lobby for and promote rail transport as a preferred option for bulk and intermodal freight

To lobby for and promote improvement and expansion of Tasmania’s rail infrastructure and network

-The retention of the Bridgewater to Hobart line- The reopening of various other lines eg. Derwent Valley, Wiltshire, Smithton and Scottsdale

To lobby for transport solutions to be integrated into urban and regional planning

PRIMARY RATIONALE

Climate change demands action, increased public transport services are inherent to this response

Increasing oil costs, together with the reality of Peak Oil will ensure that significant improvements to public transport services, with a much wider range of options, is necessary in the near future

Economic efficiency –assisting business and providing jobs

Equity and accessibility

Improved air quality and matching Tasmania’s Clean and Green brand

Addressing unsustainable traffic congestion

Removing discrimination –improving access to public transport for the disabled, elderly people and parents

More closely knit and cohesive communities;-eg. Neighbours who catch the same bus are much more likely to talk to one another in comparison to those who drive themselves to work

The notion that public transport systems or indeed a publicly owned rail system have to pay their own way is potentially counterproductive to the aim of such a system-Were Hobart’s old tram and suburban rail systems closed due to lack of patronage, or running costs?

Current demand is not relative to future use, simply because of the lack of current transport alternatives

Rail transport is potentially far more efficient than road, and has multiple benefits alongside decreasing carbon emissions, including;-significantly decreased road maintenance costs-potentially decreased road toll and associated costs relating to heavy vehicle crashes-Tasmania’s rail network was constructed in the 19th century and has to compete with a 20th century highway

MORE ABOUT US

Until now there has been no community-based group advocating public and rail transport. We are here to fill this gap and provide a voice for these issues in the public arena.

We mean business and will work as vigorously as any corporate lobby group does, except that unlike some we want to hear public opinion.

Membership of FTT is open to any person who wishes to be a part of it.

We are not affiliated with any political party. We welcome discussion of our agenda and ideas with anyone, and we hope to have discussions with all three major political parties in Tasmania about these issues.

Tasmania is currently re-defining itself. As part of this process of change and growth, in a vision of sustainability and progress, transport infrastructure is a vital part of nation (and state) building. Future Transport Tasmania aims to bring this vision of the future into today’s public debate.

For further information and comment:Toby Rowallan (Secretary) 0418 997 069Email: